It's cool to be kind: 15 ways to spread kindness in your community

Think about that time someone paid for your coffee at your favorite coffee shop, held the door open for you, or offered you a compliment you weren't expecting. Small acts of kindness such as these likely made your day brighter, put a smile on your face, or maybe even turned a bad day into a good one. 

Kindness starts with one person, and it can spark a chain reaction of recipients "paying it forward" with their own acts of kindness. Not only does an act of kindness make the recipient feel better, they actually improve the giver's health too. Researchers say good-hearted behavior, particularly random acts of kindness, benefits mental and physical health. 

Showing random acts of kindness is easy and you may already do some of these activities on a daily basis. Although the opportunities to spread kindness are literally limitless, check out a few easy activities to get you started: 

• Find out something new about a co-worker
• Send an encouraging email or a simple text of appreciation
• Pay it forward in the coffee line
• Show your gratitude with a simple 'thank you' 
• Take out your neighbor's trash can
• Look for volunteer opportunities
• Hold the door open for someone
• Call a family member or friend you've been meaning to get in touch with
• Pick up litter
• Shop and eat local to support businesses in your community
• Run an errand for a busy family member or an elderly neighbor
• Donate groceries to your local food bank
• Compliment a stranger
• Be kind on social media
• Write letters or put together care packages for troops overseas

For more ways you can spread kindness throughout your community, check out these ideas from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.